Pahang coach Dollah Salleh’s woes have only got worse but the former international has not given up hope of a positive result at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Bahru tomorrow for a place in the FA Cup semi-finals.
The first-leg at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan on April 6 ended in a scoreless draw – which means both sides will start on equal footing although the Southern Tigers will have the crowd support.
Dollah Salleh is grappling with a spate of injuries on the crock list are skipper skipper Matthew Davies, Safuwan Baharudin while Gambian hitman Mohamadou Sumareh is down with fever. On top of that Norshahrul Idlan Talaha will only arrive hours before the match after his wife suffered a miscarriage.
“I will only name my team hours before the match.Those who are injured will be given a fitness test,” said Dollah after a warmup session in Johor Bahru on Thursday.
“If the injured are not able to take the field the others will have to shoulder the responsibilities. Despite the snags in getting my first team for the match our chances are as good as JDT’s.”
Last year Pahang dumped JDT out of the FA Cup at the same stage 4-3 on aggregate.
Pahang is never an easy team to play – both at home and away – and the injured have given Dollah a headache but the former international has made it clear that his team “will give their all” to stop the 2016 FA Cup champions.
JDT head coach Raul Longhi believes his team’s impressive 3-0 win over PKNS FC in a Super League match at Larkin Stadium last Saturday has given the team a much needed boost for the FA Cup encounter.
“The attitude shown by the players after the win over PKNS speaks well of the team to face Pahang,” said the Argentine on a posting on the Southern Tigers Facebook.
“But Pahang are a dangerous attacking side and we have to take note of that. They have fast and dangerous players…it does not matter who is fielded for the match.”
One player who could be a match winner for JDT is Gonzalo Cabrera.hot-shot The Argentine hit a brace in the win over PKNS FC. He has struck a formidable striking partnership with Hazwan Bakri.BY RIZAL ABDULLAHÂ
